Image processing method and image processing apparatus

Abstract

There is described a method of processing an image recorded on a film, by which differences of gamma values between RGB image information and information on foreign substances or damages are corrected. The method comprises the steps of: irradiating a plurality of lights, whose wavelengths are different relative to each other, onto the film; reading the image by detecting the plurality of lights transmitted through the film or reflected from the film placed, so as to generate a plurality of color image data sets corresponding to a plurality of color images included in the image; and processing the plurality of color image data sets, so as to keep each of relative relationships or each of ratios, between gamma values of the plurality of color images, substantially constant.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of processing an image recorded on a film, comprising the steps of: 
 irradiating a plurality of lights, whose wavelengths are different relative to each other, onto said film;    reading said image by detecting said plurality of lights transmitted through said film or reflected from said film placed, so as to generate a plurality of color image data sets corresponding to a plurality of color images included in said image; and    processing said plurality of color image data sets, so as to keep each of relative relationships or each of ratios, between gamma values of said plurality of color images, substantially constant.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , 
 wherein said plurality of color images include a Red image, a Green image and a Blue image.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , 
 wherein said plurality of color images include a Red image, a Green image, a Blue image and a specific image having a wavelength other than those of said Red image, said Green image and said Blue image.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , 
 wherein said specific image is an infrared image.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , 
 wherein said Green image is selected as a reference image for processing said plurality of color image data sets, and each of said relative relationships or each of said ratios, between a gamma value of said Green image and each of gamma values of said Red image, said Blue image and said specific image, is kept substantially constant.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , 
 wherein each of said relative relationships or each of said ratios, between a gamma value of said Green image and each of gamma values of said Red image and said Blue image, is kept substantially constant.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , 
 wherein each of said gamma values is measured by reading a plurality of solid image areas, whose densities are different relative to each other, and each of which is recorded on each of a plurality of films.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , 
 wherein each of said gamma values is measured by reading a plurality of solid image areas, whose densities are different relative to each other, and which are recorded within a single frame of a film; and    wherein said plurality of solid image areas are arrayed in order of their density strengths.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , 
 wherein each density difference value between two adjacent solid image areas of said plurality of solid image areas is not greater than 0.5.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , 
 wherein each of said gamma values of said plurality of color images is compensated for, so as to keep each of said relative relationships or each of said ratios constant; and    wherein each of compensated gamma values of said plurality of color images is changed corresponding to a kind of said film.    
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for processing an image recorded on a film, comprising: 
 a light source to emit a plurality of lights, whose wavelengths are different relative to each other, and which are irradiated onto said film;    an image-reading section to read said image by detecting said plurality of lights transmitted through said film or reflected from said film placed, so as to generate a plurality of color image data sets corresponding to a plurality of color images included in said image; and    an image-processing section to process said plurality of color image data sets, so as to keep each of relationships or each of ratios, between gamma values of said plurality of color images, substantially constant.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , 
 wherein said plurality of color images include a Red image, a Green image and a Blue image.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , 
 wherein said plurality of color images include a Red image, a Green image, a Blue image and a specific image having a wavelength other than those of said Red image, said Green image and said Blue image.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , 
 wherein said specific image is an infrared image.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , 
 wherein said Green image is selected as a reference image for processing said plurality of color image data sets, and each of said relative relationships or each of said ratios, between a gamma value of said Green image and each of gamma values of said Red image, said Blue image and said specific image, is kept substantially constant.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , 
 wherein each of said relative relationships or each of said ratios, between a gamma value of said Green image and each of gamma values of said Red image and said Blue image, is kept substantially constant.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , 
 wherein each of said gamma values is measured by reading a plurality of solid image areas, whose densities are different relative to each other, and each of which is recorded on each of a plurality of films.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , 
 wherein each of said gamma values is measured by reading a plurality of solid image areas, whose densities are different relative to each other, and which are recorded within a single frame of a film; and    wherein said plurality of solid image areas are arrayed in order of their density strengths.    
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , 
 wherein each density difference value between two adjacent solid image areas of said plurality of solid image areas is not greater than 0.5.    
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , 
 wherein each of said gamma values of said plurality of color images is compensated for, so as to keep each of said relative relationships or each of said ratios constant; and    wherein each of compensated gamma values of said plurality of color images is changed corresponding to a kind of said film.    
     
     
         21 . A method of processing an image recorded on a document, comprising the steps of: 
 irradiating a plurality of lights, whose wavelengths are different relative to each other, onto said document;    reading said image by detecting said plurality of lights transmitted through said document or reflected from said document placed, so as to generate a plurality of color image data sets corresponding to a plurality of color images included in said image; and    processing said plurality of color image data sets, so as to compensate for photographing-response characteristics in respect to each of said plurality of color images, corresponding to variations of an image-magnification factor for every photographing-operation.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , 
 wherein an image of a foreign substance or a scar on said document is substantially eliminated by compensating for said photographing-response characteristics.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , 
 wherein either an amount-of-change or a rate-of-change, between first photographing-response characteristics at a certain image-magnification factor, serving as a reference image-magnification factor, and second photographing-response characteristics at another image-magnification factor, is compensated for.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , 
 wherein said photographing-response characteristics includes at least one of factors, which are misregistration of said plurality of color images, correlation of MTF characteristics, focusing properties of said plurality of color images, ratios between gamma values of said plurality of color images, noises and shading patterns.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , 
 wherein said photographing-response characteristics are compensated for within a predetermined range, irrespective of any variations of said image-magnification factor.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , 
 wherein a best image-quality is obtained at said reference image-magnification factor without compensating for said photographing-response characteristics in a range of said variations of said image-magnification factor.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , 
 wherein an average image-quality is obtained at said reference image-magnification factor without compensating for said photographing-response characteristics in a range of said variations of said image-magnification factor.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , 
 wherein a table of compensation values is provided for every image-magnification factor to be set.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein a table of compensation values is provided for each of image-magnification factors divided into predetermined intervals, and gaps between said image-magnification factors are linearly interpolated.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , 
 wherein a table of compensation values is provided for each of predetermined ranges of said image-magnification factor, and said photographing-response characteristics are compensated for by employing a same compensation value within each of said predetermined ranges of said image-magnification factor.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , 
 wherein first compensation values at said reference image-magnification factor are stored, and second compensation values at another image-magnification factor other than said reference image-magnification factor are differential components of said first compensation values.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , 
 wherein variations of compensation values by said image-magnification factor are calculated by employing a formula.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21 , 
 wherein said document is a photographic-film.    
     
     
         34 . An apparatus for processing an image recorded on a document, comprising: 
 a light source to emit a plurality of lights, whose wavelengths are different relative to each other, and which are irradiated onto said document;    an image-reading section to read said image by detecting said plurality of lights transmitted through said document or reflected from said document placed, so as to generate a plurality of color image data sets corresponding to a plurality of color images included in said image; and    an image-processing section to process said plurality of color image data sets, so as to compensate for photographing-response characteristics in respect to each of said plurality of color images, corresponding to variations of an image-magnification factor for every photographing-operation.    
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , 
 wherein an image of a foreign substance or a scar on said document is substantially eliminated by compensating for said photographing-response characteristics.    
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , 
 wherein either an amount-of-change or a rate-of-change, between first photographing-response characteristics at a certain image-magnification factor, serving as a reference image-magnification factor, and second photographing-response characteristics at another image-magnification factor, is compensated for.    
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , 
 wherein said photographing-response characteristics includes at least one of factors, which are misregistration of said plurality of color images, correlation of MTF characteristics, focusing properties of said plurality of color images, ratios between gamma values of said plurality of color images, noises and shading patterns.    
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , 
 wherein said photographing-response characteristics are compensated for within a predetermined range, irrespective of any variations of said image-magnification factor.    
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , 
 wherein a best image-quality is obtained at said reference image-magnification factor without compensating for said photographing-response characteristics in a range of said variations of said image-magnification factor.    
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , 
 wherein an average image-quality is obtained at said reference image-magnification factor without compensating for said photographing-response characteristics in a range of said variations of said image-magnification factor.    
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , 
 wherein a table of compensation values is provided for every image-magnification factor to be set.    
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , 
 wherein a table of compensation values is provided for each of image-magnification factors divided into predetermined intervals, and gaps between said image-magnification factors are linearly interpolated.    
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , 
 wherein a table of compensation values is provided for each of predetermined ranges of said image-magnification factor, and said photographing-response characteristics are compensated for by employing a same compensation value within each of said predetermined ranges of said image-magnification factor.    
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , 
 wherein first compensation values at said reference image-magnification factor are stored, and second compensation values at another image-magnification factor other than said reference image-magnification factor are differential components of said first compensation values.    
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 44 , 
 wherein variations of compensation values by said image-magnification factor are calculated by employing a formula.    
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , 
 wherein said document is a photographic-film.    
     
     
         47 . A method of processing an image recorded on a film, comprising the steps of: 
 irradiating a plurality of lights, whose wavelengths are different relative to each other, onto said film;    reading said image by detecting said plurality of lights transmitted through said film or reflected from said film placed, so as to generate a plurality of color image data sets corresponding to a plurality of color images included in said image; and    processing said plurality of color image data sets, so as to compensate for misregistrations between positional coordinates of said plurality of color images.    
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , 
 wherein each of said plurality of color images is constituted by pixels, which are arrayed in two-dimensional directions of rows and lines, and are divided into a predetermined number of unit pixel areas; and    wherein said misregistrations between said positional coordinates of said plurality of color images are compensated for by deforming pixels included in each of said unit pixel areas with each of deforming amounts being different relative to each other.    
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , 
 wherein said plurality of color images include a Red image, a Green image and a Blue image; and    wherein said misregistrations between said positional coordinates of said plurality of color images are compensated for by matching positional coordinates of said Red image and said Blue image with that of said Green image.    
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , 
 wherein a light, having a wavelength other than those of said Red image, said Green image and said Blue image is irradiated onto said film to capture a specific image of a foreign substance or a scar on said film; and    wherein, after matching a positional coordinate of said specific image with those of said Red image, said Green image and said Blue image, foreign substance or scar images, recorded on said Red image, said Green image and said Blue image, are compensated for, based on information in regard to said specific image of said foreign substance or said scar.    
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , 
 wherein said positional coordinate of said specific image is matched with a positional coordinate of said Green image.    
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , 
 wherein an Infrared light is irradiated onto said film to capture said specific image of said foreign substance or said scar on said film; and    
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 47 , 
 wherein a chart, on which either vertical lines or horizontal lines, or both of them are depicted, is employed for detecting misregistrations between said positional coordinates of said plurality of color images.    
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , 
 wherein either said vertical lines or said horizontal lines, or both of them are arrayed in (a) vertical and/or horizontal direction(s) with predetermined intervals between them in said chart.    
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , 
 wherein said chart has only a single color-sensitive component.    
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 53 , 
 wherein said chart is made of such a material that an Infrared-transmittance varies with changes in density.    
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 53 , 
 wherein said chart is made of one of materials including a metal-plate made by etching, a vaporized glass filter and a monochrome film.    
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 47 , 
 wherein compensation amounts for compensating said positional coordinates of said plurality of color images are changed, corresponding to every kind of said film.    
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , 
 wherein foreign substance or scar images are compensated for, after compensating said positional coordinates of said plurality of color images.    
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 58 , 
 wherein foreign substance or scar images are compensated for, referring to said compensation amounts for compensating said positional coordinates of said plurality of color images.    
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 58 , 
 wherein, based on individual compensation amounts detected in advance, compensation amounts newly acquired or compensation calculations, said compensation amounts are changed, corresponding to everyone of image-magnification factors.    
     
     
         62 . An apparatus for processing an image recorded on a film, comprising: 
 a light source to emit a plurality of lights, whose wavelengths are different relative to each other, and which are irradiated onto said film;    an image-reading section to read said image by detecting said plurality of lights transmitted through said film or reflected from said film placed, so as to generate a plurality of color image data sets corresponding to a plurality of color images included in said image; and    an image-processing section to process said plurality of color image data sets, so as to compensate for misregistrations between positional coordinates of said plurality of color images.    
     
     
         63 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , 
 wherein each of said plurality of color images is constituted by pixels, which are arrayed in two-dimensional directions of rows and lines, and are divided into a predetermined number of unit pixel areas; and    wherein said misregistrations between said positional coordinates of said plurality of color images are compensated for by deforming pixels included in each of said unit pixel areas with each of deforming amounts being different relative to each other.    
     
     
         64 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , 
 wherein said plurality of color images include a Red image, a Green image and a Blue image; and    wherein said misregistrations between said positional coordinates of said plurality of color images are compensated for by matching positional coordinates of said Red image and said Blue image with that of said Green image.    
     
     
         65 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , 
 wherein a light, having a wavelength other than t-hose of said Red image, said Green image and said Blue image is irradiated onto said film to capture a specific image of a foreign substance or a scar on said film; and    wherein, after matching a positional coordinate of said specific image with those of said Red image, said Green image and said Blue image, foreign substance or scar images, recorded on said Red image, said Green image and said Blue image, are compensated for, based on information in regard to said specific image of said foreign substance or said scar.    
     
     
         66 . The apparatus of  claim 65 , 
 wherein said positional coordinate of said specific image is matched with a positional coordinate of said Green image.    
     
     
         67 . The apparatus of  claim 65 , 
 wherein an Infrared light is irradiated onto said film to capture said specific image of said foreign substance or said scar on said film; and    
     
     
         68 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , 
 wherein a chart, on which either vertical lines or horizontal lines, or both of them are depicted, is employed for detecting misregistrations between said positional coordinates of said plurality of color images.    
     
     
         69 . The apparatus of  claim 68 , 
 wherein either said vertical lines or said horizontal lines, or both of them are arrayed in (a) vertical and/or horizontal direction(s) with predetermined intervals between them in said chart.    
     
     
         70 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , 
 wherein said chart has only a single color-sensitive component.    
     
     
         71 . The apparatus of  claim 68 , 
 wherein said chart is made of such a material that an Infrared-transmittance varies with changes in density.    
     
     
         72 . The apparatus of  claim 68 , 
 wherein said chart is made of one of materials including a metal-plate made by etching, a vaporized glass filter and a monochrome film.    
     
     
         73 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , 
 wherein compensation amounts for compensating said positional coordinates of said plurality of color images are changed, corresponding to every kind of said film.    
     
     
         74 . The apparatus of claim  73 , 
 wherein foreign substance or scar images are compensated for, after compensating said positional coordinates of said plurality of color images.    
     
     
         75 . The apparatus of claim  73 , 
 wherein foreign substance or scar images are compensated for, referring to said compensation amounts for compensating said positional coordinates of said plurality of color images.    
     
     
         76 . The apparatus of claim  73 , 
 wherein, based on individual compensation amounts detected in advance, compensation amounts newly acquired or compensation calculations, said compensation amounts are changed, corresponding to everyone of image-magnification factors.